The Soundwalk

On a cool spring day, I decided to take a walk around 14th Street after sitting at my work desk for 5 hours. When I stepped out of the building, I was immediately greeted with the sounds of construction workers, hammering and drilling away on the building adjacent to mine. It wasn't the best noise to step out to, but it's expected considering where I am. It made me and other passerby's jump. I began my walk, I forgot that there was a school nearby, which was letting out at the time. Parents were walking and talking with their children about their day. There were also large groups of teenagers coming out of school, some louder than others. One group howled with laughter over the prospect of passing their math class, while the other was more concerned with where they'd go for a midday snack. The sounds of heels clacking on the concrete sidewalk created a bit of an unpleasant symphony with their voices. However, once the groups parted, it started to sound more familiar to me. I wore heeled shoes myself that day, so the addition of my shoes to the "symphony" made it seem more complete. One of my favorite parts of the walk was towards the end: the High Line is near, which means a large opportunity to hear more sounds. Across from that is a small pier, where the water audibly moves along with the breeze. It may seem strange, but the cars and trucks riding on the brick roads almost enhances the experience. It gives you the sense that you are in this hustle and bustle area of New York.

Define a Space_Jane & Shuyi from Jane Chazanoff on Vimeo.